New 4th of July updates: Michigan and Oakland County see significant increase of 2.6 million travelers over holiday weekend

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AAA estimates that more than 2.6 million Michigan residents will drive 50 miles or more from home over Independence Day weekend, setting a record for the second year in a row.

Nationwide, 105 of 174 projects will lift lane restrictions.

While motorists in most MDOT work zones will experience a weekend shutdown of service, they are advised that equipment and certain traffic configurations, such as temporary shifts or shoulder closures, may remain in place.

“We pulled back the barrels as much as possible for the holiday weekend, but we couldn’t do that for every project.

We thank drivers for continuing to be patient behind the wheel and obeying all posted speed limits in construction zones,” said Brad Wieferich, Michigan’s transportation director.

“Let’s keep it up so that everyone, including drivers, their passengers and road workers, can get home every night.”

MDOT oversees the I, M and US designated routes and is responsible for nearly 10,000 miles of state highways that carry more than 50 percent of all traffic and about 70 percent of commercial traffic in Michigan.

State projects in Oakland County include:

• I-75, with two lanes in each direction between M-15 and the Oakland-Genesee county line.

The westbound I-75 Business Loop (Square Lake Road) is closed and detoured from M-1 (Woodward Avenue) to I-75.

• I-96 has two lanes in each direction between I-275 and Kent Lake Road.
• On I-696, two lanes are open in each direction between I-275 and Lahser Road.

In Oakland County, the Highway Department will also suspend most work from 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, to 6:00 a.m. on Monday, July 8.

“The Highway Authority wants to ensure that the roads are as clear of obstructions as possible during this time, as increased traffic is usually expected on holidays,” said Managing Director Dennis Kolar.

“This should help ensure a safe and convenient life for drivers in Michigan and Oakland County.”

These roads remain closed or partially closed to traffic:

• The Baldwin Road/Clarkston Road intersection in Orion Township will be closed until the end of August due to construction on the roundabout.
• Dequindre Road, Hamlin Road and Avon Road on the border between Rochester Hills and Shelby Township are closed until the end of November due to infrastructure work by the Great Lakes Water Authority.
• Elizabeth Lake Road, Highland Road (M-59) to Teggerdine Road in White Lake Township will be closed until early October due to reconstruction work being conducted by the Township under a permit issued by the RCOC.
• Farr Street between Carroll Lake Road and North Commerce Road in Commerce Township will be closed until the end of August due to bridge construction.
• Indianwood Road, Lapeer Road (M-24) to Joslyn Road in Orion Township will be closed until early October for culvert replacement work.
• Pontiac Lake Road (from Airport Road to Crescent Lake Road in Waterford Township) over the Clinton River is closed for bridge replacement work until approximately October 18.
• Waldon Road, Baldwin Road and Clintonville Road in Orion and Independence townships will be closed for gravel road resurfacing work until early November.